Professional brand...

This week's challenge (well a few weeks ago, but I'm catching up) involved google, linkedin and thinking about your professional brand. I see the point of this, making every post count so that you will look more attractive to future employers and connect with like minded colleagues. I get this, and can see how it will benefit me, but for me it leaves me feeling slightly uncomfortable. This is nothing against the course, and I am thoroughly enjoying it, but I have been reading posts on Twitter and in the latest Update about the Radical Librarians, and it is plaguing my thoughts somewhat. Mostly because I'm not really sure what I think.

I think it's the position of the group that libraries are being more and more looked at in terms of a consumer society, from the terms we use (customers or users) to the things that are being recommended practice (setting libraries out like shops etc) and the group think it doesn't have to be this way. Or that it should be this way.

If I, as a person, have to have a brand to sell myself to future employers then isn't that the ultimate win for a consumer not only driven, but obsessed, society? If  people are only a product to be branded and sold, then why the surprise that this mentality afflicts every other area of our profession? And I use the word afflicted precisely because libraries used to provide an escape from this. When I was young I used to go to the library in town because it was the only place I could go where I didn't have to spend money, and, not having much of it, that was important. Are libraries now reinforcing the importance of money as much as everywhere else?

Is our society drifting (or being manipulated) to the right?

So in terms of my brand, I might be one of those teens from YouTube who gets a deal through word of mouth, rather than because of their publicity stunts...

I'm genuinely not sure what I think, so would be welcoming of any answers or thoughts or opinions!

Why did I become a Librarian?

Well, this is something that I remember very vividly. I was in my room at uni, and after three years of doing a course I loved (English Literature) I realised I was going to have to go out into the world and do something. I had no idea what. I had thought about working back stage in theatres, but having tried it I decided it wasn't for me. I thought about becoming a teacher, but having family members who teach made me realise that the politics were more consuming than the job was, and that's not how i thought it should be.

I was going through various job adverts, wondering whether I should or could apply, and I came across an advert for an Assistant Librarian. I got the sense that it was a job about people and learning, and would require constant learning; a job that wouldn't get boring after a week or a month. It seemed to suit my personality - some quiet time (cataloguing); some time with others (teaching or deliberating with colleagues); some order (re-shelving) and some chaos (the library users!). This was mid 2009 and now, in mid 2015 I can honestly say I've never looked back and regretted this decision! It has been tough, and expensive, but amazing and challenging, and I have met some of the most inspiring people, who are doing amazing things. My colleagues across the country really are an absolute inspiration.

Chartership - a journey! 

This blog is really starting way too late - I am pulling the various threads of my CILIP Chartership Portfolio together, but I want to keep learning, and this Rudai 23 is a great way of doing it. Recently I've been finding myself wanting to share successes and frustrations, so decided it was probably better not to do this on the blog that's linked to my job! Not that they're about my job, but I'd rather not get them involved!

I am a school librarian, passionate about reading, literacy and learning, and I happen to live on a narrowboat, which explains the perhaps bizarre title to this blog!

A first blog... done! :)